Judo Black Belt South Africa Association

(Here within referred to as JBBSAA)

The Judo Black Belt South Africa Association (here within referred to as JBBSAA) of the Freestyle Judo South Africa Organization Alliance and Freestyle Judo Ritoru Tatsu Fight Club South Africa was formed by Alwyn Grobbelaar (IJBBA Yondan 4th Dan and JSA Sandan 3^rd Dan) to provide fair, inexpensive and objective criteria for rank promotions for the supporters of “Judo, the way it ought to be” in South Africa and its neighboring countries. JBBSAA falls under the international umbrella of the International Judo Black Belt Association (here within referred to as JBBA) of the International Freestyle Judo Alliance (here within referred to as IFJA).

The Judo Black Belt South Africa Association is a national organization founded to advance and promote a total approach to Kodokan Judo through the concept of Freestyle Judo. The JBBSAA is truly a Yudanshakai, that is an organization of black belts and other interested Judoka wishing to preserve and promote the totality of Kodokan Judo. We welcome all coaches, students and athletes from Judo, BJJ, Sambo, Jiu-jitsu, Gracie Bara Jui-Jitsu, Wrestling or any grappling sport to join our organization.

The Judo Black Belt South Africa Association (JBBSAA) and Judo Black Belt Association (JBBA) in America is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Kodokan Judo as founded by Prof. Jigoro Kano in 1882. Prof. Kano formed his “three-culture principle” of Rentai-ho (the development of a sound and healthy body, in other words Judo as a method of physical education), Shushin-ho (the development of a sound moral character and mental acuity) and Shobu-ho (the development of functional and effective skill in contests or self-defense).

Judo is more than simply a sport. While the sport aspect of Judo makes the activity all the more interesting and enjoyable, Judo is, at its heart, one of the best forms of physical education ever devised. As part of the educational process, a Judoka should become a better person and be a benefit to society.

The JBBSAA supports the Freestyle Judo South Africa Organization Alliance, Freestyle Judo Ritoru Tatsu Fight Club South Africa, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Judo program and the International Freestyle Judo Alliance (IFJA) for the promotion and development of Judo as a sport all over the world. The JBBSAA is endorsed by the Freestyle Judo South Africa Organization Alliance, Freestyle Judo Ritoru Tatsu Fight Club South Africa and international JBBA as an organization that issues Judo rank and is a supporter of the international JBBA and its principles and goals as a sports organization and Yudanshakai.

The JBBSAA endorses the rules of Freestyle Judo South Africa Organization Alliance, Freestyle Judo Ritoru Tatsu Fight Club South Africa; International Freestyle Judo as a method of providing fair, safe and enjoyable competition for the sport of Judo. Additionally, the JBBSAA uses the rank syllabus and standards developed by the International JBBA (Compiled by Steve Scott Shichidan (7th DAN) ), and under the guidance and umbrella agreement between the international JBBA (Steve Scott) and Freestyle Judo South Africa Organization Alliance, Freestyle Judo Ritoru Tatsu Fight Club South Africa (Alwyn Grobbelaar). JBBSAA will follow and implement any change from the JBBA Handbook (© Copyright, 2017 by Steve Scott).

No one outside the JBBSAA / FJRTFCSA and/or none registered member are and/or will not be allowed to use the International JBBA handbook without the permission and blessing from JBBSAA (Alwyn Grobbelaar) and International JBBA (Steve Scott) within the borders of South Africa and its surrounding borders.

The JBBSAA exists to provide opportunities for development for all of its members. The JBBSAA is not a “rogue” or “splinter” group formed to compete with any existing Judo or other Martial Arts organizations. The JBBSAA provides fair, honest and technically sound standards for the issuing of belt rank in Judo and serves as another opportunity for Judoka to develop their total approach to the study, practice and application of Judo as standards set by the International JBBA.

The JBBSAA‘s standards for rank meet and exceed the standards of other national and international Judo/Jiu-Jitsu organizations.

You cannot buy rank, registration, or validation in the JBBSAA or International JBBA. The JBBSAA and its JBBA do not charge yearly dues, or sustaining life memberships. You can only earn rank or validation through active participating Yudanshakais.

The Judo Black Belt South Africa Association is a conservative organization. If you want a high dan grade, go buy one.

The FJSAOA, FJRTFCSA , JBBSAA, IFJA, its JBBA, and its participating Yudanshakais do not discriminate in participation in Judo events from other organizations We ENCOURAGE it.

The FJSAOA, FJRTFCSA , JBBSAA, IFJA and JBBA are united by the common goal of restoring Judo back to the great and popular combat sport that it once was.

The JBBSAA and JBBA is based on the Yudanshakai system established initially by Prof. Kano for the advancement of Judo knowledge and for the issuing of Judo belt rank. The term “Yudanshakai” translates to mean “Black Belt Association” and the JBBSAA and JBBA is exactly that; an association of black belts on the national and international level with affiliated regional and local Yudanshakai. The JBBSAA will be the representative from South Africa to the America international JBBA, under the umbrella of the international JBBA.

The JBBA views earning belt rank in Judo similar to earning an educational credential. A useful analogy is to think of earning a Shodan (Initial or 1st Grade Black Belt) in the same way of earning a college degree. Prof. Kano was an educator and the JBBA retains an educational perspective in the issuing of belt rank.

Earning a black belt is a serious undertaking that requires hard study, effort, time and patience. The JBBSAA and JBBA take a strict and conservative approach to the issuing of black belt rank and use some of the most stringent standards available. While we assign no blame to any specific group or individual, there have been abuses in the past in the issuing of Judo belt rank. It is the JBBSAA and JBBA’s position that rank should be earned on the mat through earnest and honest study and practice. The JBBSAA and JBBA is independent of other Judo organizations and as a result of this, the belt ranks issued by us are not recognized by any other Judo organization or governing body. But honestly, in the competitive world of Martial Arts, the quality of the person’s skills wearing the belt is far more important than who issued the belt that person is wearing.

Someone once remarked that a belt simply holds the Judogi together, and it’s the person wearing that belt that is the true measure of what he or she is capable of doing. It’s the person who does the Judo, not the belt.

If you are happy with your current Judo organization, by all means, stay with that group; the JBBSAA and JBBA is not for everyone. The JBBSA and JBBA does not wish to take members from other organizations or groups or supplant, replace or copy any other organization. In fact, the JBBSAA and JBBA encourages everyone in Judo to participate in as many organizations and their clinics, tournaments and other events as possible. Many JBBSAA and JBBA members are also members of other Judo organizations as well as other Martial Arts organizations. The JBBSAA and JBBA offers an “old school” approach to the issuing of Judo rank. Our emphasis is on the total development of a person who does Judo using a conservative approach to the awarding of Judo belt rank. If you currently possess a high Dan grade, you most likely are happy with your current organization and there is absolutely no need for you to affiliate with the JBBSAA and which in return will register you Dan grade with the International JBBA. However, if you are not satisfied with your current situation and want an honest assessment of what your belt rank should be, contact us. We don’t guarantee a promotion (in fact, if you place more emphasis on your belt rank than you do the quality of your Judo, then the JBBSAA and International JBBA is definitely not for you), but we do provide an opportunity for deserving Judoka to advance in both knowledge and rank, especially for those black belts who are ranked below Yondan.

The JBBSAA and JBBA issues rank of Shodan and higher to deserving members. Belt ranks of Ikkyu and below are subject to the Coach, Sensei or Instructor or to the local/regional member Yudanshakai. We are a national Yudanshakai with local and regional affiliated Yudanshakai who have local and regional affiliated clubs under them. For information on joining the JBBSAA, contact Alwyn Grobbelaar at alwyngrobbelaar56@gmail.com.

South Africa JBBSAA Recognized Dan grades:

Shichidan (7th DAN)

Rokudan (6th Dan)

Godan (5th Dan)

Yodan (4th Dan)

Alwyn Grobbelaar, 26/06/2018, International Judo Black Belt Association and AAU Judo (Steve Scott & John Saylor)

Sandan (3rd Dan)

Nidan (2nd Dan):

Shodan (1st Dan) :

Wynand Meyjes

Dave Pike

Ion Crafford

Monique Grobbelaar

Please help support these organizations by participating in their events, joining their clubs, clicking on their web links, and “Liking” their Facebook and social media sites.

Important Note:

JBBSAA Charter Membership costs R850.00

(Dependent on the exchange rate ZAR to USD)

The above Charter Membership includes the International JBBA Charter Membership costs of 50.00 USD payable to Steve Scott at the International JBBA. Application, registration and recognition to the International JBBA, has to be done through the JBBSAA.

No annual Dues or hidden membership fees.

We won’t keep hitting you up for money!

We are as Yudanshakai (Black Belt Association) and have some of the toughest and fairest rank requirements anywhere.

We keep our rank promotion fees at a minimum financial cost.

We BELIEVE in “sweat equality” as the major cost of rank promotion.

That’s why our rank promotion fees are inexpensive yet the SKILL requirements are demanding.

We welcome everyone from Judo, BJJ, Sambo, Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling and any other martial art or combat sport who want an open-minded, serious and “old school” approach to doing Judo. We are endorsed by the Freestyle Judo South Africa Organization Alliance (FJSAOA), Freestyle Judo Ritoru Tatsu Fight Club South Africa (FJRTFCSA), and in Alliance with the International Freestyle Judo Alliance (IJFA) and under the umbrella of the International Judo Black Belt Association (JBBA).

If you have any questions, please call Alwyn Grobbelaar at +27 (0) 72 902 8233 or send me an e-mail at alwyngrobbelaar56@gmail.com

JBBSAA MEMBERSHIP AND RANK APPLICATION 07 07 _18

Short History of the International JBBA

Founded in 2004 as an ancillary Judo organization for the Shingitai Jujitsu Association, the Judo Black Belt Association has its national headquarters in Perrysville, Ohio (with the Shingitai Jujitsu Association headquarters). John Saylor serves as the overall SJA Director with Steve Scott of Kansas City, Missouri as the JBBA Director. The JBBA has grown since that time and now is endorsed by the AAU Judo Committee to issue rank in Judo. The JBBA serves to promote and preserve Kodokan Judo using the JBBA rank syllabus and standards and issues Dan grade promotions to qualified JBBA members.

The International JBBA Recognized Dan grades:

Hachidan (8th Dan)

John Saylor, 12/8/2018,
Steve Scott, 12/8/2018,

Shichidan (7th Dan)

Becky Scott, 3/3/2018,
AnnMaria De Mars, 3/3/2018,

Rokudan (6th Dan)

Fritz Goss, 5/10/2005
William Montgomery, 5/10/2009
Ed Carol, 6/6/2015,
Ronda Rousey, 3/3/2018,
Kenneth Brink, 12/8/2018,

Godan (5th Dan)

Shawn Watson, 7/31/2005
Sondra Harrelson, 12/7/2007,
Kirk Quinones, 9/3/2009
Kelvin Knisely, 9/3/2009
William Bryan Potter, 9/3/2009
Christopher Heckadon, 6/10/2010
Mark Lozano, 3/23/2012,
Vincente D’Ingianni, 4/19/2015,
James Wall, 3/19/2016,

Yodan (4th Dan)

Bill West, 8/1/2005
Joseph Roberts, 11/1/2005
Warren Frank, 11/1/2005
Robert Rittman, 9/2/2009
Christopher Heitmann, 5/17/2014

Sandan (3rd Dan)

James Schnewis, 7/10/1989
Alberto Cruz, 12/1/2005
Charles Jones, 1/31/2006
Derrick Darling, 5/22/2013,
Michael Russell, 2/25/2010
Brian Hanson, 5/17/2014
Matt Neely, 12/3/2013
Larry Lein, 4/19/2008
Christopher Lein, 4/19/2008
Corinna West, 8/1/1998
Janet Trussell, 4/12/1983

Nidan (2nd Dan)

Thomas Alejos, 5/10/1993
Kenneth Cabean, 5/10/1983
Drew Hills, 9/3/2009
Michael, Thomas, 9/3/2009
Bret Holder, 9/3/2009
Ben Goehrung, 1/23/2012
Gene Smith, 12/5/2009
Jacob Pursley, 5/22/2013,
John Zabel, 5/22/2013
Les Luithle, 5/10/1993
Charles Garcia, 5/1/1983
Adrian Garcia, 5/1/1983
William Quenelle, 12/7/2007
Michael Pennington, 5/17/2014
Christopher McClish, 5/17/2014
Kayoko Abernathy 5/17/2014
Andre Coleman, 12/5/2014
Anthony Enriquez, 11/14/2015,
Toan Dinh, 12/4/2015

Shodan (1st Dan)

Eric Millsap, 3/29/2007
Chuck Willen, 5/1/1985
Sacha Taghizade, 5/7/1998
Chance Powers, 2/1/2007
Kevin Cox, 5/7/1994
John Parker, 5/7/1994
Thomas Frank, 11/4/1999
Ronald Bibbs, 5/12/1983
Steve Potter, 8/3/2009
Gary Idleburg, 5/11/1985
Jacob Phillips, 5/8/2009
Scott Brink, 12/19/2011,
Lori Knisley, 12/7/1995
John Begley, 10/14/2007
Eric Vann, 1/1/2009
TJ Barnet, 5/14/2016
Christopher Garlick, 5/6/2012
Pavel Nockel, 6/4/2012
William Cook, 9/9/2013
Steve Soden, 5/1/2010
Robert Heckaden, 12/1/2009
James Rippee, 5/7/2014
Craig Johnson, 1/1/2010
Josh Sisson, 12/4/2015,
Jarrod Fobes, 1/1/2008,
Kelly Hunter, 1/1/2008
Hillary Elliot, 12/7/2007
Sharon Vandenberg, 12/7/2007
Kevin Green, 8/1/2007
Ed Rogers, 1/1/2008
Rob Davis, 9/1/2007
Jerrod Brasseaux, 10/21/2015,
Kirt Brasseaux, 5/21/2016,
William Schrimsher, 4/5/2016

If you have any questions, please call Alwyn Grobbelaar at +27 (0) 72 902 8233 or send me an e-mail at alwyngrobbelaar56@gmail.com